UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) Practice Test

What does it mean to impede something?

1. To facilitate progress

2. To make it difficult to happen

3. To encourage smooth operations

4. To enhance efficiency

The correct answer is: To make it difficult to happen

To impede something means to make it difficult for that thing to happen or progress. The term conveys a sense of obstruction or delay, indicating that there are barriers or challenges that hinder movement, completion, or achievement of goals. In various contexts, this could apply to physical movements, processes, or even abstract concepts such as plans and decisions, emphasizing the difficulty created by the impediment. The other options describe actions that promote or improve experiences or processes, contrasting sharply with the idea of impeding. Facilitating progress, encouraging smooth operations, and enhancing efficiency all relate to support or acceleration rather than creating obstacles. Therefore, the essence of impeding lies in its negative impact on the ability to move forward or achieve outcomes, making the understanding of option B clear and accurate.